Monday, September 04, 2006

Object Lesson

As regular readers will know, we like to make our occasional contribution to the Fine Art of Heroclix. Usually, it's just showcasing the fine work of Totaltoyz in creating custom figures, chosen by our readers in polls, such as:

We'll continue to do all of that, but we're also going to take the next step, by contributing some Object Tokens.

As Heroclix players know, there are two types of Object Tokens, standard objects (which come in two flavors: yellow-bordered Light Objects and red-bordered Heavy Objects) and special objects.

Standard objects are just blunt instruments; characters with Superstrength are allowed to pick them up and smash them over people's heads or throw them at opponents. Many's the Heroclix player who has, over the years, developed a phobia of gumball machines and trash dumpsters.

Special objects (which have a blue border) do special things, like blow up when you throw them or affect the adjacent spaces.

We're going to add our own types of "special objects": green-bordered Portable Objects (which anyone can pick up and carry) and purple-bordered Personal Objects (which only certain people can use). These objects will all have a "point value"; that way, you can either include them as part of your team, or, if all players agree, simply include them in the ordinary distribution of objects around the board.

There are tons of objects we could make; I welcome your suggestions! In fact, I'll make you a deal: if you buy a custom clix from Totaltoyz through the Big Monkey Ebay site, I'll design you an object or bystander token of your choosing -- for free! -- then post it here on the blog for all to enjoy. Provided the request is reasonable and appropriate, of course; no "Power Girl's panties" requests will be honored.

When conceiving this project, I had no doubt whatsoever which would be the first Portable Object I would make...

Faster than a test pilot's reflexes!More powerful than a Green Lantern's will!Able to "klomp" Hal Jordan in a single sound!

"The Mighty Marvel Plot Device"--a mysterious object that, when hurled against an opponent, causes a "misunderstanding" that forces a player's characters to fight each other for one turn.

For the sake of play balance, maybe it's only the character hit with it who lashes out at his or her nearest teammate? Or it causes a massive free-for-all, but the other players have to hold back for that round and let the players have their turn of "misunderstanding?" It'd be a wicked powerful piece.

"Dude, I thought you were a villain!" is a mainstay of Mighty Marvels past. I say enjoy it.